[Tyrian]

Is there any real difference between those two plugs?  If I have a motherboard with a 24 pin power socket, can I plug in either a 20+4 or 24 pin?

[FUBAR-BDHR]

From what I've seen most of the power supplies come with a 24 pin and you can just split off the 4 pin if you don't need it.  They seem to be pretty universal that way. 

Just look up the power supply specs to make sure it will work for 20 or 24 pin. 

[BloodEagle]

A 20+4 pin will work with a 24 pin mainboard. I don't like it, though.

[Hellstryker]

A 20+4 pin will work with a 24 pin mainboard. I don't like it, though.

[Scuddie]

The 20+4 and 24 P1 connectors both utilize the ATX12V standard.  Most PSUs included the +4 as a separate molex connector to maintain backward compatibility.

Most modern PSUs (especially EPS12V) have an assload of +4s.  My PSU has a 20+4+4+4+4 layout.  Kind of disgusting, I know, but also very forward and backward compatible.

[Bob-san]

The 20+4 and 24 P1 connectors both utilize the ATX12V standard.  Most PSUs included the +4 as a separate molex connector to maintain backward compatibility.

Most modern PSUs (especially EPS12V) have an assload of +4s.  My PSU has a 20+4+4+4+4 layout.  Kind of disgusting, I know, but also very forward and backward compatible.

20+4 and 24 connectors are the same. But as was stated--20+4 is to maintain backwards compatibility. Basically they divided the plastic connector in two, so you can just pop off the extra 4 pins if your motherboard only accepts 20-pin. Other then that--what do you mean by "an assload of +4s"? EPS12V usually has 20+4, an 8-pin or 4+4-pin (EPS), and some have an additional 4-pin (P4).

[FUBAR-BDHR]

I have one that has at least 4 +4 connectors (at least I think they are all the same).  One for motherboard (attached as 24 but can remove by breaking tab), 2 for video cards and one for who knows what.  It's an 800 watt and it is also configurable so you can add more if you need them.    You can swap the types of connectors you need. 

[Scuddie]

My Corsair PSU is EPS12V compatible.  It has a lot of secondary 4 pin 12v molexes.  20+4, 4+4 EPS/P4, and a 4 pin that's not marked.  Probably for high performance MOSFETs.

Either way, the 12v lines are all interchangeable.  With this many modular +4 connectors, there are very many combinations that can be utilized.  That's the point I was trying to make .

EDIT:  FUBAR, are you sure those aren't +6 connectors?

[CP5670]

3 is common, one for the 20+4 and another two for the EPS connector. The fourth 4-pin may be for multiprocessor server boards which sometimes have an extra 4-pin or 6-pin plug, in addition to the 8-pin EPS one.

As for the original question, yes, they're the same thing.

[Tyrian]

Thanks.  I was pretty sure they were the same, but I just wanted to make sure there wasn't some minor difference in power delivery.  I ask, because I'm building another rig...Again.

[FUBAR-BDHR]

EDIT:  FUBAR, are you sure those aren't +6 connectors?

Double checked and it's got a 20+4 another +4, 1 8 pin and 2 that can either be 6 pin or 8 pin and 2 other 6 pin.  You can also remove some of the molex or sata cables and add another 6 or 8 pin if you have the cables.  Oh and there is another auxiliary cable as well. 

I do belive the extra +4 is for dual processor boards.  I had one ages ago (we're talking P2 266) and it used a +4 connector for the second CPU.